Take a close-up look at the colorful--and cruel--robbers of the sea. Learn who devised the terrifying Jolly Roger, how a surprisingly disciplined life was maintained aboard pirate ships, and what cunning ruses pirates used to lure merchants to their doom.

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About the Author:

Richard Platt is the author of more than fifty books for children. He is the author of "Eureka!" which was chosen as a 2004 Outstanding Science Trade Book by the CBC and NSTA.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 5-8?While stunning, full-color photographs and illustrations continue to be the hallmark of this series, one shouldn't overlook the accompanying texts. Platt looks at the subject of piracy from the time of ancient Greece to the 19th century in double-page topic treatments. Readers are introduced to privateers, buccaneers, and corsairs, and told how they differ. Illustrations of various types of pirate ships, and the merchant vessels that were most often their targets, are particularly effective. Unfortunately, maps are few and far between and those included are too small and poorly labeled to be of much use. Building contains all of the virtues of other "Eyewitness" books, but is hampered by trying to cover too much territory. The history of building techniques, materials, and philosophy from earth-and-thatch houses to cathedrals and skyscrapers is crammed into the 64-page format. Some of the technical terms introduced, e.g., "plinth," are not adequately explained, and there is no glossary. Despite their drawbacks, both books are suitable additions to libraries.?David N. Pauli, Missoula Public Library, MTCopyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.